Design

The Dornier Do 17 was initially designed to be a mail and passenger transport for Luft Hansa. However, it was rejected as the cabin wasn't large enough. The Do 17 could only carry 6 people.

Captain Untucht, a former Dornier employee, suggested to the Luftwaffe that it would make a good bomber.

The initial prototype of the Dornier Do 17 had a single fin and rudder and was rather slim. Initially it was abandoned as it was cramped. It was redesigned with a twin fin and rudders and was evaluated as a high speed bomber.

Faults in Spanish Civil War

It was shown by battle experience that the Do 17 had inadequate defensive armament. There was only a machine gun with a limited field of fire that protected the belly. This resulted in the redesigned of the cockpit area which allowed for more machines guns. The nose became fully glazed and was named "Beetle Eye."

Prototype

The first three prototypes had a single fin and were powered by two BMW VI engines (660 HP). The first time they flew was in 1934. After these all Do 17s had twin fins and rudders.

In 1935 new prototypes with BMW and Hispano-Suiza engines were flown. These would try out having a glazed nose, defensive armament, and a bomb bay.

Production

Initially the Do 17E-1 bomber and Do 17F-1 photo reconnaissance plane were ordered.

Dornier Do 17S: 3

Dornier Do 17U: 15

Dornier Do 17Z: >500, 535

Production: ? - 1940

Dornier Do 17Z-10 Kauz II: 9

Dornier Do 215: 112

Total: 1,200

Manufacturer: Dornier Werke GmbH

Variants

Dornier Do 17V-1: Prototype.

Dornier Do 17E: Bomber. Initial production model.

Dornier Do 17E-1: Bomber. Entered service in 1937.

Dornier Do 17F: Reconaissance. Initial production model.

Dornier Do 17F-1: Reconnaissance. Entered service in 1938.

Dornier Do 17L: Pathfinder.

Dornier Do 17K: Was based on the Do 17M. Had Gnome-Rhône 14 (980 HP) engines. Sold to Yugoslavia.